The Yankees said over the offseason that they wanted to give Rice more exposure to lefties this year, and he took full advantage of his first start in such situation on Sunday.
The 27-year-old was right back in the lineup against tough Royals southpaw Noah Cameron, and he had no issue crushing a solo shot as part of a five-run bottom of the third.
Rice lifted a 3-1 fastball up in the zone 398 feet to the second-deck in right, giving him homers in three straight games and a total of seven on the season.
He grounded out in his only other at-bat against Cameron, but is now hitting an impressive .313 with a pair of homers and a 1.041 OPS against lefties on the season.
“He’s made a lot of progress,” Aaron Boone said. “He handled his own against [lefties] last year and then some, so Benny’s just continuing to solidify himself as one of the outstanding hitters in the league no matter what hand you throw with.”
The numbers certainly show that to be true.
Even with the homer being his lone knock in the win, Rice is hitting .339 through 42 at-bats.
He’s racked up 13 XBH's, has driven in 17 runs, is getting on-base at a .468 clip, and is slugging .774 which adds up to a 1.224 OPS -- all of which are among the league’s best.
Rice’s early-season prowess has him drawing praise from his teammates.
“Ever since I saw him last spring he’s been hitting the ball hard,” Cody Bellinger said. “He’s got a really good idea of what he wants to do up there -- just a really good plan, really good approach, it’s fun to watch.”
“I don’t think I’ve seen anyone be so consistent impacting the ball the way he’s been doing so far this year,” Amed Rosario added via a translator. “It feels great to see that from him, just really great work.”
Boone plans on having Rice and Paul Goldschmidt in the lineup against lefty Cole Ragans as the Yanks look for the series sweep in Sunday’s finale.
ATLANTA, GA - APRIL 6: Jalen Johnson #1 of the Atlanta Hawks drives to the basket during the game against the New York Knicks on April 6, 2026 at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Adam Hagy/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The New York Knicks enter the playoffs off a strong season that saw them finish as a top-five offense and top-ten defense. Now, with a championship in their sights, our heroes open their first-round series against a retooled Atlanta Hawks team that has benefited from breakout seasons by Jalen Johnson and Nickeil Alexander-Walker, veteran scoring from CJ McCollum, and a balanced, defensive-minded rotation. While Atlanta brings pace, shooting, and opportunism, New York’s edge lies in its physicality, rebounding, and late-game shot creation—especially in the hands of Captain Clutch.
Tip-off is 6:00 pm EST on Amazon Prime Video. This is your game thread. This is Peachtree Hoops. Please don’t post large photos, GIFs, or links to illegal streams in the thread. Be cool and enjoy the ride. And go Knicks!
The Los Angeles Kings are in for a tall task as they're set to face the Presidents Trophy winning Colorado Avalanche in round one of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. If the Kings want any chance to knock out the Avalanche, they will need every single player in their lineup to play the best hockey of their careers.
Obviously the star players like Artemi Panarin and Adrian Kempe will lead the way, the team needs solid production from depth players such as Trevor Moore and Joel Armia.
Drew Doughty will likely lead the Kings defensemen in ice-time but a player like Mikey Anderson must be ready for the task of shutting down Nathan MacKinnon and Martin Necas.
Trevor Moore, LW
If the Kings are going to stay competitive in this series, they need depth scoring more than just about anything. Trevor Moore seems like the perfect player to provide a clutch goal or two throughout a series.
Last postseason, the 31-year-old proved he has what it takes as he scored two goals, along with two assists for four points in the Kings six-game series against the Edmonton Oilers.
This season, Moore scored 13 goals and 19 assists for 32 points in 69 games played.
Mikey Anderson might be the most underrated player on the Kings roster. The 26-year-old consistently plays over 20 minutes every night while playing alongside Drew Doughty on the Kings top pair.
In his seven-year career, the 26-year-old has never finished a season with a +/- rating over lower than zero. This season, he managed to finish with a +8 rating while playing on a team that has a hard time scoring, as well as facing the opponents top lines night in and night out.
However, his postseason numbers have not been as compelling. in 24 career postseason games Anderson is a -14. It should be taken into consideration that every game he's played in late spring has been against Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers.
The Kings need Anderson to build off of his past playoff woes in order to shutdown the high flying Avalanche.
Joel Armia's first season as a Los Angeles Kings should be described as a success. He has provided exactly what he was brought in to do. Score 10+ goals and 25+ points while bringing a solid two-way play style to the lineup. In 67 games, the 32-year-old scored 13 goals and 12 assists for 25 points.
While Armia has shown he's a terrific third line winger, he has also proved that he can step up when it matters most. In the 2026 Olympics in February, Armia was arguably Team Finland's best player. In six games in Italy, the Finnish veteran scored three goals and five assists for eight points, while also having a +7 rating.
The winger also brings crucial playoff experience, having played in 49 career postseason games prior to this series. 21 of those 49 games came when Armia and the Montreal Canadiens made it all the way to the Stanley Cup Final in 2021.
Armia and his experience in big moments should prove to be crucial if the Kings are to have any success against the Avalanche.
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The thought of being back on this stage had Deandre Ayton’s blood boiling.
He quipped that he was ready to do backflips out of excitement because of what was ahead for him and the Lakers.
That’s how much Ayton is relishing the opportunity to be a part of the NBA playoffs again, with the Lakers playing the Rockets in a first-round series.
The Lakers’ Deandre Ayton (5) is back in the playoffs for the first time since 2023. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
“Personally, I’m very excited,” Ayton said recently. “I haven’t played playoff basketball in quite some time.”
It had been nearly three years since Ayton last played postseason basketball.
Before Saturday, his last playoff game was 35 months ago while he was with the Suns. He had 14 points and nine rebounds in a loss to the eventual NBA champion Nuggets in Game 5 of the second-round series on May 9, 2023, sitting out the Nuggets’ series-clinching Game 6 victory two days later.
Ayton was traded to the Trail Blazers 4 ½ months later, missing the playoffs during both of his seasons in Portland before joining the Lakers last summer.
The Lakers’ Marcus Smart, who enjoyed deep postseason runs early in his career with the Celtics, is eager to play in the postseason again. NBAE via Getty Images
“I love playing this game, and I take great passion [for] playing on both ends of the floor,” Ayton said of what he wants to prove during the playoffs. “I still believe just being a two-way player in this league, that’s truly my second nature, and that’s how I want to be noted as in this league. I can play hard on offense; I can play hard on the defense. So that’s just really my goal, running the floor always, and closing out [possessions] with rebounds and protecting the rim. Just trying to enhance everything I can coming into the playoffs.”
Ayton isn’t the only Laker making their return to postseason play after having to watch from home the last couple of years.
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Marcus Smart, who was consistently in the playoffs to start his career, hadn’t played postseason basketball since his Eastern Conference run with the Celtics in 2023.
Smart appeared in the postseason in each of the first nine years of his career, playing in 108 playoff games for the Celtics, which included five conference finals appearances and the 2022 NBA Finals.
NBAE via Getty Images
He’s back in a familiar setting after not playing in postseason basketball with the Grizzlies and Wizards the previous two seasons.
“It means everything,” Smart said. “It has been a minute, but for me this is where things tend to start going up for me, and my play starts to turn up. I’m very excited to be back in the playoffs. I’m very excited to be on this team and help them do what we can, win some games and go as far as we can go. We don’t know how far that is, but we’re going to go out there and fight until we can’t fight no more, and that’s what I’m very excited about.”
Ayton and Smart played important roles for the Lakers en route to a 53-win season that secured the fourth seed in the West.
Smart was the Lakers’ best defender, playing in 62 games (54 starts), his most since 2022-23.
Ayton played in a career-high 72 games, the second most on the Lakers, and shot a career-high 67.1% from the field.
He got a taste of what Lakers playoff basketball is like as a visitor when his Suns beat the Lakers in six games in the first round of the 2021 playoffs.
“Especially being on this side of town now, playing in LA when I was on the other side, this place can get pretty loud,” Ayton said.
“Coming out of these practices, [coach] JJ [Redick] gives you so much. And you have to dissect it sometimes, and you’re thinking about the environment, you think about the fans, thinking about the first game as a Laker in the playoffs. So I just try to find some time to catch myself, gather and just relax. I’ve been here before, but I am truly excited. I’m in the purple and gold, and I just want to really just play hard as hell to contribute to wins.”
DALLAS (AP) — Key defensemen Miro Heiskanen and Quinn Hughes were active for Game 1 of the Western Conference playoff series between the Dallas Stars and Minnesota Wild on Saturday after both had missed the end of the regular season for different reasons.
Heiskanen didn't play the last three regular-season games for the Stars because of a lower-body injury in a 5-4 win over Minnesota on April 9.
Hughes, acquired by the Wild from Vancouver in December, missed their last two games dealing with an illness since playing a week ago at Nashville. He didn't travel with the team to Dallas on Thursday, and instead flew on his own Friday.
Dallas coach Glen Gulutzan said before Saturday's game that some extra days of rest helped Heiskanen, who skated on his own Thursday before practicing Friday. The coach said the defenseman with 63 points (nine goals, 54 assists) would be a full-go for however many minutes.
“It's the time of year he can go,” Gulutzan said.
Hughes, who has 76 points (seven goals, 69 assists) in 74 games overall, also plays a big role for Minnesota.
“I just expect him to come in and do what he does,” Wild coach John Hynes said.
Apr 4, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) during the second half against the Denver Nuggets at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images | Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images
The Spurs will return to the playoffs after a six-year drought as the second seed, following a surprising and fantastic season. They have looked like a contender, exceeding expectations and eliciting praise from the entire league. Now it’s time to prove that the success from the regular season is sustainable in the playoffs.
The Trail Blazers will be there in the first round to try to play the spoiler after winning their play-in game against the Suns. Portland has proved to be a deep, scrappy team that found a centerpiece in their breakout star, Deni Avdija. They are a massive underdog heading into Game 1, but they are not to be taken lightly despite their flaws.
Let’s take a closer look at what should be a fun series between two teams with vastly different goals and expectations.
San Antonio Spurs
Record: 62-20
Offensive rating: 118.7 (3rd)
Defensive rating: 110.4 (3rd)
Net rating: 8.4 (tied 2nd)
Portland Trail Blazers
Record: 42-40
Offensive rating: 113.1 (21st)
Defensive rating: 113.5 (12th)
Net rating: -0.4 (19th)
The Spurs’ offense will be tested
Portland has built its identity around defense. Despite dealing with multiple absences at different times in the season, they finished in the top half of the league in efficiency on that end and are arguably better than their numbers suggest. Their biggest asset is size. Even their smaller guards, Scoot Henderson and Jrue Holiday, have impressive wingspans and strength. Their collection of defensive-minded wings is vast. and they are anchored by Donovan Clingan inside, with Robert Williams backing him up. They thrive when they can cause turnovers, which they often achieve by playing a long rotation and pressuring opponents into mistakes.
Unfortunately for the Trail Blazers, they are facing a Spurs team that seems designed to counter their strengths. The Silver and Black have one of the lowest turnover percentages in the league and have several ball handlers they can turn to to relieve the pressure of any specific matchup. They play fast, trying to attack before the defense is established, and normally counter size with speed even in the halfcourt. Their offense is not the most sophisticated, but it doesn’t have to be. Drive-and-kicks and any play involving Wembanyama are normally enough to get them a good look. And they are even feisty on the offensive glass, punishing defenses that overcommit to contesting everything or try to be too aggressive.
There will be key matchups to monitor. In all three regular-season games, the Blazers used Toumani Camara on De’Aaron Fox, even when they had Henderson and Holiday available. Fox got to the paint at will, so they might adjust and try to match his speed with a smaller but quicker defender. Even if they do contain Fox, who torched them this year, the Spurs can turn to Castle to run the show or try to get Deni Avdija, a solid but not outstanding defender, on switches to trigger rotations. The midrange shot and floaters could be deadly against an opponent that often plays drop defense to wall off the rim but doesn’t have switchable bigs.
Speaking of bigs, Victor Wembanyama missed all three games against the Blazers in the regular season, but should thrive in this matchup. Clingan, in particular, should not be able to deal with his agility, and he can draw him out with his range, leaving the back line exposed and the Blazers susceptible to offensive rebounding. Portland has hidden Clingan on non-shooters against stretch bigs, but it might be hard to find somewhere to do so against the Spurs. Castle seems like the better option on paper, but he’s been shooting better and can use his athleticism to attack him. We might see a lot of zone from Tiago Splitter’s team.
Ultimately, it will come down to execution. The Blazers have a lot of long-armed defenders to throw the Spurs’ ball handlers’ way and to punish any distraction or laziness on offense. They have no answer to Wembanyama, but could force others to beat him, so the shooters should be ready to fire away if left open, and San Antonio’s superstar might need to be patient if the entire game plan is geared towards stopping him. The Silver and Black should be able to score, but will need to be under control on every possession against an opponent that only has a chance to make the series competitive if they can rattle them.
Defensively, discipline will be key
While the Blazers can be tricky to deal with on defense, their offense is simply not good enough. Their outside shooting is among the worst in the league, and since they don’t have a true stretch five despite Clingan’s improving range, the paint can be crowded at times. They have some talented shot makers, a star in Avdija, and some momentum after closing the season with several role players shooting better, but it’s incredibly hard to see them scoring consistently against an elite defense like San Antonio’s, provided the Spurs are locked in.
It will be important for the Silver and Black to not fall back into bad habits. The Blazers know their limitations in the half-court and will look to run, even after makes. If the Spurs can limit easy points on the break and force Portland to play against a set defense, they should cruise to the second round. It’s easier said than done, since the Blazers have multiple ball handlers who can push the ball up the floor, including Avdija, who is lethal in space, but San Antonio has been great at preventing fastbreak points this year.
Another area where focus will be required on every possession is the defensive glass. The Spurs led the league in defensive rebounding percentage, but could struggle against an opponent that puts a big emphasis on getting extra possessions. Luke Kornet is not a great defensive rebounder, and Victor Wembanyama can be moved out of the way, so it will take a team effort to limit second-chance opportunities, a key factor for Portland, which finished the season with the fourth-highest offensive rebound percentage in the league and led all teams in second-chance points. Clingan is a specialist and will recover some misses, but San Antonio has to fight for every board.
The engine of the Blazers’ half-court offense is Deni Avdija. He led the league in drives per game and was efficient in those forays to the paint in part because opponents couldn’t stop fouling him, something that Castle, likely his main defender, will have to avoid. Avdija’s combination of size and vision makes him a handful, but he hasn’t faced Wembanyama yet this season, and it will be interesting to see how much challenging the best rim protector in the league affects him. It might push him to do what he seems to prefer on drives: passing. The problem for Portland is that Wemby will likely make lobs impossible, forcing Avdija to spray to the perimeter to questionable shooters.
Beyond the transition buckets, second chance opportunities, and Avdija-generated points, Portland has viable but not consistent weapons. Veterans Jrue Holiday and Jerami Grant can still fill it up occasionally, but neither can act as a first option. Scoot Henderson is progressing as a shooter, defender, and shot creator, but at this point, he’s more of a role player than the star many thought he would immediately be. Shaedon Sharpe might drop 30 or take bad shot after bad shot. The Camara-Murray-Thybulle trio will hit some threes, but it doesn’t inspire fear from beyond the arc. The lack of firepower is real.
Prediction: Spurs in 4
The Trail Blazers are likely better than the numbers suggest, but this is a terrible matchup for them. San Antonio is good at preventing what Portland does well on offense, namely getting transition points and offensive rebounds. Avdija, who can shoot but is at his best when he touches the paint, will face a challenge because the Spurs will live with some threes from Clingan if it means Wembanyama gets to shut down the paint. They are deep, but so is San Antonio. Their defense is stout, but Wembanyama presents a riddle they might not be able to solve. They have no significant edge in any area.
A safer bet than a sweep would be to give Portland at least one game, based on the Spurs’ inexperience, Avdija’s brilliance, and the Trail Blazers’ ability to make teams uncomfortable with their defense. The games should likely be close, but in the end, if San Antonio is locked in, they should come out on top in every single one.
Apr 18, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Toronto Raptors forward Scottie Barnes (4) drives to the basket against Cleveland Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen (31) during the second half of game one in the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Rocket Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images | Ken Blaze-Imagn Images
The Cavaliers protected home court this afternoon, handily defeating the Raptors 126-113 on the strength of Donovan Mitchell’s and James Harden’s combined 54 points.
The Raptors have been branded as optimistic underdogs in this series. While sweeping Cleveland in the season series 3-0, those losses came early in the season before their acquisition of James Harden, a presence Toronto would feel heavily in today’s game on the road. Going into Rocket Arena, the Raptors had the weight of the country on their shoulders as they sought to steal a first game on the road.
The game was close in the first quarter, with Scottie Barnes looking like every bit of the superstar that he is, knocking down threes and facilitating his teammates, leading the Raptors to an early lead that was quickly caught up to by the Cavs. The connection between James Harden and Jarrett Allen activated early on, scoring with pick and rolls, layups, and three pointers, with Harden showing off his scoring chops and ability to run an offence. Max Struss, off assists, dropped in four points at close range to break a tie and put the Cavaliers up 4, 35-31 at the end of the first quarter.
Toronto and Cleveland traded blows throughout the beginning of the second, with RJ Barrett activating to get thoroughly involved in the offence. Harden continued his onslaught of scoring and assisting, and with a pass to an Evan Mobley dunk, got the lead to seven points, that after a three-pointer from Struss, would be extended to double digits near the end of the quarter.
Things began to unravel for the Raptors in the third quarter, as the Cavaliers continued to push their lead into the teens with unrelenting force at the rim and on the perimeter. Up 14, Max Struss hit two threes in a row to push the Cavaliers’ lead to 20, 80-60, as RJ Barrett pushed back, getting to the line, and assisting on a Jamal Shead three. Scottie had a picture-perfect assist to Jakob Poeltl, threading the needle past two defenders to drop the rock off to the big man for an easy bucket at the rim. As the Raptors began to claw their way back into the game, the Cavaliers refused to relinquish their lead, as Donovan Mitchell hit jump shots and free throws to keep the Raptors buried under the 20 point deficit.
The writing was on the wall by the beginning of the fourth, though Jamal Shead and Scottie Barnes did what they could to put up points on the board. Barnes was everywhere, hitting free throws, facilitating, or scoring at the rim. But halfway through the last quarter, the Cavs still led 115-95, with James Harden assisting or scoring to patch up any hole the Raptors made in the Cavaliers’ lead. With two minutes left, the Cavaliers pulled their starters, the death knell on the hardwood, as Trayce Jackson-Davis hit two free throws in garbage time to end the game.
Donovan Mitchell led all scorers with 32 points and James Harden all facilitators with 1o assists, Cleveland’s guard combo operating at its maximum efficiency. The Raptors spread minutes across their big men, with Jakob Poeltl, Collin Murray-Boyles, and Sandro Mamukelashvili all playing around 20. The rookie played well in his first postseason game, dropping in 14 points with 4 boards and assists and piece. Brandon Ingram underperformed with 17 points, 7 of them from the charity stripe, however, as RJ Barrett and Scottie Barnes shined. Ultimately, the Raptors were out-rebounded and outscored, with the Cavaliers’ backcourt looking unstoppable. The Raptors will play the Cavaliers next on Sunday for their second matchup for this first round series, before heading back home to Scotiabank Arena.
The Golden Knights have the edge in certain areas, but this won’t be an easy matchup. The Mammoth are fast, young, and potent offensively. If the Golden Knights want to avoid a first-round exit, they’ll have to be cautious of these three challenges.
Power Play
The Mammoth struggled on the man advantage to begin the season. At the Olympic Break, their power play ranked 31st in the league, ahead of only the Colorado Avalanche. Since returning from break, however, they boast the 3rd-ranked power play in the league with a 30.0% success rate.
All five players on the top unit— Nick Schmaltz, Logan Cooley, Clayton Keller, Dylan Guenther, and Mikhail Sergachev— are dangerous in their own right. Schmaltz and Guenther are the main trigger men with 11 and nine power play goals, respectively. Keller is an elite playmaker, with 27 of his 62 assists coming on the man advantage. And Sergachev recorded 26 of his 49 assists on the power play.
Dylan Guenther
On a team rich with talent, no one is better than Dylan Guenther at putting the puck in the back of the net. He’s the best scorer in this series, and it’s not particularly close. With 40 goals and 73 points in 79 games this season, Guenther has proved to be equally talented as a puck distributor as he is as a shooter.
Guenther can score from anywhere on the ice— he can rip it from distance or bang in a rebound. He’s especially dangerous on the power play, where he scored nine goals and recorded 24 points.
There’s no reason to believe that Guenther’s success is unsustainable— he’s shooting 16.5%, but that’s not terribly higher than his normal shooting percentage. The Golden Knights will need to be very conscious of when and where the young sniper is on the ice.
Depth Scoring
Dylan Guenther is far from the only dangerous player on this Mammoth roster. They, like the Golden Knights, have ten players on their roster with at least 10 goals. Their forwards are fast and skilled, and their defensemen are all capable puck movers.
The Mammoth have a dangerous top line with 83 goals between the three forwards. Apart from the obvious threat of Clayton Keller, Nick Schmaltz is particularly dangerous this season, with a career-high 33 goals. But they’ve also spread the wealth around, with 77 goals on their second line. Logan Cooley scored 24 goals in 54 games this season. And with 48 goals and one JJ Peterka on the third line, the Mammoth have no weak links offensively.
The Golden Knights certainly have their fair share of depth scoring, as well. But Tomáš Hertl, who is the fourth-highest goalscorer on the team, hasn’t scored since March 4th. He has just one goal and six assists in his last 23 games. And on their top line, despite ending the season on a high note, Jack Eichel is still less than two weeks removed from a 13-game stretch where he scored just once.
Saturday their futility reached double digits. They fell 4-2 to the Cubs at Wrigley Field for a 10th straight loss — one short of the club’s longest losing streak in 22 years.
Manager Carlos Mendoza was later asked if he had a message for the team’s fans.
“They have all the right to be pissed and frustrated,” Mendoza said. “They care, just like we do. We care here. We want to win as much as they do. There’s [only] so much I can say here, because we have got to go out and do it. I understand how they are feeling. I would be pissed, too, if I am a fan. I’m pissed. They’re pissed.” The Mets avoided the embarrassment of a day earlier, when Kodai Senga’s awful performance and sloppy defense were on display, but still played badly enough to continue their free fall.
That meant an anemic offensive showing and a sixth-inning breakdown by Freddy Peralta and Brooks Raley.
Peralta was rolling for a second straight start, but lost the strike zone with two outs in the sixth in a 1-1 game, walking Ian Happ and Seiya Suzuki. Mendoza summoned Raley and one pitch later the game tilted: pinch hitter Carson Kelly blasted a three-run homer. The Mets never recovered.
Chicago Cubs pinch-hitter Carson Kelly (15) runs the bases after hitting a three-run homer against the New York Mets during the sixth inning at Wrigley Field on April 18, 2026. David Banks-Imagn Images
It marked the eighth time in the losing streak the Mets scored two runs or fewer.
“Every game has been different,” Marcus Semien said. “We want to play better as an offense. Giving up some big homers kind of hurt us, but we’ve lost a lot of different ways. There’s no pointing a finger at anything right now.”
Peralta allowed three earned runs on three hits and two walks with three strikeouts over 5 ²/₃ innings. His shortcoming was failing to record the final out in the sixth.
New York Mets pitcher Brooks Raley returns to the dugout after a pitching change during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs, Saturday, April 18, 2026, in Chicago. AP
“We need to keep grinding and keep competing and trying to get better and win some games,” Peralta said.
Mark Vientos’ homer in the second gave the Mets a 1-0 lead. Vientos jumped on a four-seamer from Jameson Taillon and blasted it 434 feet to the left field bleachers for his second homer this season. Later in the inning, Semien singled and Carson Benge walked before Bo Bichette was retired to end the threat.
Happ’s homer leading off the bottom of the inning tied it 1-1. Peralta plunked Suzuki and allowed a single to Miguel Amaya, escaping trouble by retiring Pete Crow-Armstrong and Dansby Swanson in succession.
New York Mets’ Mark Vientos (27) returns to the dugout after being forced out during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs, Saturday, April 18, 2026, in Chicago. AP
Luis Robert Jr. singled in the third inning and was thrown out attempting to steal second. Semien walked leading off the fifth, but the inning concluded with Bichette’s double-play grounder. MJ Melendez drew a two-out walk in the sixth before Taillon retired Alvarez.
“I thought we had some decent at-bats, created some traffic, hit some balls hard,” Mendoza said. “But the times we had runners on base we couldn’t get that big hit. We are just having a hard time putting a rally together.
Peralta got two quick outs in the sixth, but never concluded the inning. Happ walked before Peralta ran the count full to Suzuki and threw a slider that missed low and away. Raley replaced Peralta and Kelly crushed his first pitch over the left field wall to bury the Mets in a 4-1 hole.
New York Mets’ Marcus Semien (10) returns to the dugout after striking out during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs. APFreddy Peralta of the New York Mets pitches during the first inning against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field. Getty Images
Nico Hoerner’s throwing error gave the Mets an unearned run in the eighth after Bichette and Francisco Lindor had singled in the inning. Vientos, batting with the tying runs on base and two outs, grounded out to end the threat.
Taillon stifled the Mets, allowing one earned run on five hits and three walks over six innings. The right-hander was removed after 100 pitches.
“We’re putting ourselves in a big hole right now,” Mendoza said. “But there is only one way to do it and that is just come back tomorrow ready to go.”
Juraj Slafkovsky enjoyed a massive breakout season with Montreal, blowing past previous highs while producing 73 points over 82 games.
He enjoyed a lot of success against Tampa Bay, and my Canadiens vs. Lightning predictions expect that to continue in the series opener today.
Let’s dive into my NHL picks for Sunday, April 19.
Canadiens vs Lightning Game 1 prediction
Who will win Canadiens vs Lightning Game 1?
Lightning: Despite dealing with a ton of injuries all season long, they still won 50 games and finished 32 goals above Montreal in goal differential. They have a better underlying profile, a battle-tested roster, and an advantage in goal. That should shine through.
Canadiens vs Lightning best bet: Juraj Slafkovsky Over 0.5 points (-145)
Juraj Slafkovsky had an excellent campaign altogether but was especially effective down the stretch, producing 28 points over 25 games following the Olympics.
It wasn’t as if Slafkovsky had a couple of ceiling performances exaggerate his numbers. He was remarkably consistent, hitting the scoresheet at least once in 18 games — good for a 74% clip.
Slafkovsky faced the Tampa Bay Lightning twice during that stretch and produced multiple points in both meetings. That is nothing new for Slafkovsky, who has points in five of his last six against the Bolts.
Look for Slafkovsky to make an impact in Game 1.
Canadiens vs Lightning Game 1 same-game parlay
Mike Matheson blocked multiple shots in 60% of his games this season, including the only game played without Noah Dobson. The Montreal Canadiens are likely to be even more reliant on the veteran defenseman with Dobson sidelined.
More usage means more opportunities to block shots, especially against a strong shot-generation team like Tampa Bay.
Jake Guentzel has 43 goals and 73 points through 74 games, always rising to the occasion when the games matter most. He also has points in eight of his last 10 against Montreal, making him a prime target in this matchup.
Canadiens vs Lightning SGP
Juraj Slafkovsky Over 0.5 points
Mike Matheson Over 1.5 blocked shots
Jake Guentzel Over 0.5 points
Canadiens vs Lightning Game 1 goal scorer pick
Nikita Kucherov (+130)
Nikita Kucherov hasn’t scored in back-to-back playoff series, but a steady dose of Aleksander Barkov and Gustav Forsling certainly had a lot to do with it.
The Canadiens don’t have true shutdown personnel — particularly on the backend — of that level, and head coach Jon Cooper also controls the matchups. That should result in less time against Selke candidate Nick Suzuki, which would help Kucherov’s cause.
Look for Kucherov to put his recent postseason struggles behind him.
Canadiens vs Lightning odds for Game 1
Moneyline: Montreal +155 | Tampa Bay -180
Puck line: Montreal +1.5 (-155) | Tampa Bay -1.5 (+135)
Over/Under: Over 6.5 (+115) | Under 6.5 (-135)
Canadiens vs Lightning trend
Juraj Slafkovsky has produced nine points over his last six games against Tampa Bay. Find more NHL betting trends for Canadiens vs. Lightning.
How to watch Canadiens vs Lightning Game 1
Location
Benchmark International Arena, Tampa, FL
Date
Sunday, April 19, 2026
Puck drop
5:45 p.m. ET
TV
TNT, truTV, CBC
Canadiens vs Lightning latest injuries
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
Apr 15, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Phillies infielder Bryce Harper (42) hits a home run against the Chicago Cubs in the ninth inning at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Ross-Imagn Images | Kyle Ross-Imagn Images
Dec 27, 2025; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Hawks forward Jalen Johnson (1) boxes out New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) in the second quarter at State Farm Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images | Brett Davis-Imagn Images
The 6-seeded Atlanta Hawks (0-0) try to steal Game 1 just like they did five years ago tonight in the Garden.
Jock Landale (ankle sprain) has been ruled out.
Starting lineup:
G CJ McCollum
G Nickeil Alexander-Walker
F Dyson Daniels
F Jalen Johnson
C Onyeka Okongwu
Please join in the comments below as you follow along.
Where, When, and How to Watch and Listen
Location: Madison Square Garden, Manhattan, New York, NY
The Mets and Cubs were in the thick of a pitcher's duel until the sixth inning, when a three-run shot from a pinch-hitting Carson Kelly gave Chicago the go-ahead hit in New York's 4-2 loss on Saturday afternoon.
Freddy Peralta and three relievers combined to allow only five Cubs hits, but two were home runs and accounted for all four Chicago runs.
The Mets have now lost 10 games in a row, the longest since 2004.
Here are the takeaways....
-The Mets' offensive explosion -- by their standards -- from Friday carried over early. Francisco Lindor hit a two-out single before Luis Robert Jr. smoked a double down the left field line to put runners on second and third. MJ Melendez, who started his Mets tenure 4-for-7, lofted a fly ball to left as the Cubs got out of the inning.
Unlike Friday's game, the wind -- especially in left -- was coming in. A few balls hit that way died in midair, but it didn't matter to Mark Vientos. The slugger, who started at first base, smashed a 433-foot blast to give the Mets a 1-0 lead. The homer came off the bat at 110 mph. It's just the Mets' second home run in the last six games. The Mets made Cubs starter Jameson Taillon work hard in the first three innings, but the veteran right-hander settled down, getting through six innings without giving up another run.
Taillon tossed 100 pitches (61 strikes), allowing the one run on five hits, three walks and striking out four batters.
-Peralta was on the mound and facing a team that knows him very well from his time with the Brewers. Ian Happ took him deep to tie the game at 1-1 in the second inning, but there wasn't much doing for the Cubs lineup against Peralta. However, Peralta just wasn't efficient enough to give the Mets length.
After getting two outs in the sixth, he walked back-to-back batters and his day was done.
Brooks Raley came on in relief and Cubs manager Craig Counsell pinch-hit Moises Ballesteros, who is having a good series, for Kelly. Kelly ambushed Raley, launching the first-pitch cutter that had way too much plate 405 feet over the wall to give the Cubs a 4-1 lead. It's the first time a pinch-hitter launched a homer on the first pitch this season. It also put a bow on Peralta's line.
The Mets ace went 5.2 innings (93 pitches/54 strikes), allowing three runs on three hits, two walks, while striking out three.
-Although the Mets lineup struggled to string together hits, they were a bit unlucky as well. Marcus Semien smashed a pitch to left field that Happ made a leaping grab near the left field wall. It was hit at 103.5 mph and would have been out in six ballparks, but the wind and where it was hit knocked it down.
That luck turned in the eighth. After Bo Bichette picked up a single, a ball that bounced off Ben Brown, Lindor picked up his second hit of the game when Dansby Swanson mishandled the grounder. Robert hit a grounder that could have been a doubleplay, but the slow-developing play allowed Robert to reach first safely after Swanson's throw took Michael Busch off the bag. Melendez struck out, but Francisco Alvarez muscled a grounder between second and first base that Nico Hoerner stopped from going into the outfield, but his throw pulled Busch off the bag, and pushed the Mets' second run of the game, but couldn't get any more.
In the ninth, Tommy Pham, pinch-hitting for Brett Baty against the left-hander Caleb Thielbar, struck out to lead off the inning. Semien struck out and Tyrone Taylor, pinch-hitting for Carson Benge, flew out to end the game. The Mets outhit the Cubs 7-5 but were 0-for-6 with RISP and left eight runners on.
April 7, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder center Chet Holmgren (7) during the second half at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images | Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
If any college basketball recruit in the transfer portal is considering the Gonzaga Bulldogs, take a look at the amount of professional talent on basketball’s biggest stage right now. Six Zags who were trained and prepared for the next level within the walls of the McCarthey Athletic Center are now gearing up for the 2026 NBA Playoffs.
Los Angeles Lakers’ Drew Timme isn’t available for the playoff roster as he’s under a two-way contract, splitting his time with the G League’s South Bay Lakers during the 2025-26 season.
As for the reigning NBA champion, Holmgren is coming off an NBA All-Star appearance for the first time in his young career. Most importantly, the 7-1, 23-year-old freak has been healthy and active defensively with that 7-6 wingspan of his.
Through 69 starts, Holmgren averaged 17.1 points on a shooting split of 55.7 percent from the field, 36.2 percent on three-pointers, and 79.2 percent at the charity stripe. His 8.9 rebounds per game rank tied for No. 11 in the NBA, while his 1.9 blocks per game are tied for No. 2.
The 2026 NBA Finals officially start on June 23 on ESPN/ABC.
Arden Cravalho is a Gonzaga University graduate from the Bay Area… Follow him on X @a_cravalho
